CAMEROON AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE: DESPITE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001065

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AIAG
ACCRA FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR SENV AMED CASC KSCA CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE: DESPITE
IMPROVEMENT, GOV'T PREPAREDNESS WANTING

REF: YAOUNDE 608

MARKED PARAGRAPHS ARE SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU). NOT
FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE USG.


1. (SBU) Summary. The Government of Cameroon's
interministerial committee (CIM, French acronym) for avian
influenza (AI) is better poised to respond to an AI outbreak
than it was last year, due to substantial training and
assistance from USAID, NAMRU-3 (reftel),CDC, APHIS and
others, including assistance from the EU and China. The
government (GRC) now has an approved quarterly work plan to
disburse funds and a guidebook for the work planning process
following UNDP operating procedures. The EU-funded PACE
surveillance program is shutting down, however, and the GRC
appears more focused on pursuing funding than on providing an
effective response capability. Despite these extensive
preparations and some improvements, the GRC does not appear
sufficiently prepared and well-positioned to respond
effectively to an emergency outbreak. End summary.

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Recent Progress
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2. (U) Poloff attended the CIM steering committee meeting
at the Prime Minister's office on July 26 and later met
separately with Steve Nakashima (the AI coordinator for the
UNDP's AI Common Fund) to discuss current funding and
progress of AI-related activities. EU representative
Philippe Jacques also attended the CIM meeting. There is now
an approved quarterly work plan that allows disbursement of
funds to ministries, and the GRC has approved a guidebook for
the work planning process following UNDP operating
procedures. In addition, a number of positive steps have
improved the GRC's response capability. MINSANTE (the Public
Health Ministry) has completed its training program at the
provincial level, and MINEPIA (the Veterinary Ministry) has
completed training in the South, Southwest, North and Extreme
North provinces. A Cameroonian team also attended a CDC
workshop in Dakar. UNDP conducted a journalism workshop in
February with some materials from UNICEF, and the GRC's
AI-specific communications unit has upgraded its technology
and is developing a website. However, a planned GPS outbreak
mapping project never materialized. Following a summer
hiatus, Nakashima is planning to resume coordination with
USAID of training and shipment of commodities in the coming
months.

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Funding Issues
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3. (SBU) Although there is a national plan of action in
place, it is in need of revision. Additionally, the
EU-funded PACE surveillance program is in the process of
shutting down. Although the GRC would like to see the
program continue, it does not want to fund it. According to
Nakashima, the CIM president is unhappy with the lack of
government support, and will pursue this matter in another
technical secretariat meeting. Although the funding issue
should have been addressed in 2006, according to Nakashima,
the GRC was counting on an AI outbreak that would trigger a
fresh inpouring of international assistance. Disagreements
persist over funding, according to Nakashima. The CIM
submitted budget requests that could cover all epizootic
disease activities rather than those activities specific to
AI, he said. Although the GRC was expected to pick up the
operating cost of the PACE program after four years, it is
now asking the Common Fund to pick up the entire operating
cost. Nakashima is concerned that once Common Fund monies
are disbursed, the GRC will simply request additional money
rather than covering expenses from its own budget.

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Comment: Despite Some Improvements
Ability to Respond Remains Limited
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4. (SBU) Although the GRC is in better shape now than it was
previously, due to substantial training and assistance from
USAID, NAMRU-3 (reftel),CDC, APHIS and others, including
assistance from the EU and China, it has a tendency to view
international AI funding as an entitlement to bankroll
government programs, rather than as emergency assistance.
Furthermore, despite a preoccupation with protocol, the GRC

YAOUNDE 00001065 002 OF 002


struggles to fulfill routine administrative requirements,
such as the submission of detailed assistance requests and
timely reporting documents needed for the disbursement of
funds. While considerable training has been completed, an
effective plan of action does not yet exist. Despite these
extensive preparations and some improvements, the GRC does
not appear sufficiently prepared and well-positioned to
respond effectively to an emergency outbreak. End Comment.
NELSON